Track & Field hires the 2018 Division II USTFCCCA National Women's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year Alan Dunson as Sprints and Hurdlers Coach

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 4, 2018) – The Northern Arizona University Track & Field team has hired a new assistant coach for men's and women's sprinters and hurdles. Alan Dunson will be joining the Lumberjacks having previously coached at both Ashland University and Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State University.
 
Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Michael Smith had high praise for Dunson. "We're thrilled to add Coach Alan Dunson to the NAU Coaching staff. Our national search sought very particular criteria for this position and all roads seemed to lead back to Alan Dunson," Smith said.
 
Dunson himself was enthusiastic about his new position. He had this to say about the opportunity, "I am extremely excited to join Coach Smith and his staff and want to thank him, as well as the search committee and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Marlow, for their confidence in me and the opportunity to be a part of this era of Lumberjack Cross Country and Track & Field programs." 
 
From 2015 to 2018 Dunson coached at GVSU. Throughout his tenure at GVSU Dunson coached 47 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USATFCCCA) All-Americans, eight of which were in relays. He was a part of the NCAA Indoor DII Women's 4x4 Relay National Championship team. He also coached five NCAA runner up's while in Allendale and had 12 school records broken.
 
In 2018 Dunson was named the DII National Women's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year. In that year he coached seven student-athletes that collected 11 All-American honors during the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. In addition, Dunson also had eight Lakers receive a combined 20 All-Region honors and six student-athletes crowned champions during the GLIAC Outdoor Championships. He also received the Women's Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year honors during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
Before GVSU he returned to Ashland where he coached sprints and hurdles as well. He assisted Head Track & Field Coach Jud Logan in all phases of the program and overall administrative duties. During that time he coached four First Team USTFCCCA All-Americans during the indoor season and two USTFCCCA All-Americans during the outdoor season. Dunson also coached three sprinters to GLIAC champions, including Irene Skinner to the GLIAC Indoor Championships Freshman of the Year and the conference record in the 400 meters.
 
Prior to coaching at Ashland, Dunson was the head track & field coach at Bluffton High School in Hilton Head, South Carolina from 2011 to 2014. While at Bluffton, he coached two individual state champions and a third-place finisher.
 
"Coach Dunson is regarded as one of the top young sprint minds in the country, and his results and national coaching award affirm this, but most importantly, his mission in coaching focuses on the development of young men and women first, and athletes second. He sees coaches as teachers which is exactly the model we use in the NAU program," Smith added.
 
"While he came to us highly recommended, after our committee and staff spent time with Alan on campus this summer, we knew that he was an ideal fit for our staff, student athletes and program mission," Smith said.
 
Dunson was also a two-sport athlete at his alma mater, receiving eight combined varsity letters for track & field and football. In track & field, Dunson was a two-time conference champion in the 110 meter hurdles and was a member of the 4x400 meter relay team. He was a seven-time All-GLIAC selection and a two-time NCAA National Championship qualifier. Dunson was a key member of three GLIAC outdoor track & field championships for Ashland. 
 
Dunson also played wide receiver and was on special teams for the Ashland football team. Dunson also tied the GLIAC record for blocked kicks in a game with three against the University of Findlay in 2010.
 
Dunson earned both his Bachelor and Master's degrees from Ashland University. He graduated from Ashland in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a degree in Integrated Mathematics.
 
Smith ended by saying, "We have a great tradition to uphold with NAU Track and Field. Alan's energy, expertise, and experience as a rapidly emerging top collegiate sprints and hurdles coach make him ideal to continue on the legacy in these event areas. We're so excited to get started with his chapter in our program."
 
"NAU has a rich tradition in XC/T&F and has become a perennial powerhouse the past few years.  I look forward to bringing more Big Sky trophies and NCAA Championships back to Flagstaff," Coach Dunson added.
 
Alan Dunson Coaching History
Coaching Experience
2018-present:     Northern Arizona (Asst. Coach)
2015-2018:          Grand Valley State (Asst. Coach)
2014-2015:          Ashland (Asst. Coach)